Charlotte Harbor: Fishing Fit for Presidents

Charlotte Harbor Offers Fishing Fit for Presidents What do John F. Kennedy, Theodore Roosevelt and the Bush family have in common? They've all fished the bountiful waters of Charlotte Harbor in Southwest Florida! With all the buzz surrounding the Republican National Convention happening this week up the road in Tampa, we thought we'd share some of our presidential ties. Often called the "tarpon capital of the world," Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands has worked hard to keep an eco-friendly, no-high-rise profile while it continues to attract high-profile guests. President Theodore Roosevelt stayed in Punta Gorda at the Hotel Charlotte Harbor during the early 1900s. Some believe his 1916 account of landing a 15-foot great white shark is just a fish tale but his 1917 catch of a 16-foot "devil fish" (manta ray) is well documented. John F. Kennedy fished the waters surrounding Gasparilla Island while more recently, Presidents George H. and George W. Bush vacation on the island with their families the week between Christmas and New Year's, enjoying the fishing, golfing and natural amenities of the destination. Plan your own fishing adventure with one of our knowledgeable guides. Although Hotel Charlotte Harbor is no longer around (although it is memorialized in a mural in downtown Punta Gorda) we offer a host of accommodations to fit everyone's style from downtown to beachfront.

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About the Charlotte Harbor Gulf Island Coast

Florida's premier year-round eco-tourism destination, Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach, The Charlotte Harbor Gulf Island Coast, is known for its pristine, unspoiled beauty. The area has hosted seven major feature films, been featured on SAIL magazine's list of the "10 Greatest Places to Sail in the United States," ranked by Golf Digest as the "Third Best Place to Live and Play Golf in America," and rated by MONEY magazine as one of the "Best Places to Live in the South." For information about area events, activities and attractions, contact the Charlotte Harbor Gulf Island Coast Visitor and Convention Bureau, 18500 Murdock Circle, Suite B-104, Port Charlotte, FL; 941-743-1900, or call toll free at 1-800-652-6090 for a free Visitor's Guide; or visit the Web site at CharlotteHarborTravel.com.